Poder Latinx Join Forces With La Borinqueña Superhero in Final Push to Get Ga Latinas to the Polls for Senate Runoff Elections

For Immediate Release - Dec. 31, 2020
Contact: Gebe Martinez | gebe.gmnetworking@gmail.com| 703-731-9505

Poder Latinx Join Forces With La Borinqueña Superhero in Final Push to Get Ga Latinas to the Polls for Senate Runoff Elections

WASHINGTON, DC - As part of the voter turnout campaign for Georgia’s Jan. 5 runoff elections, Poder Latinx has partnered with Somos Arte, the creator of La Borinqueña, an Afro-Puerto Rican comic book superhero, on a new episode targeting the state’s Latina voters who outnumber Latino registered voters.

In the voter message, the fourth in the series of episodes produced by Poder Latinx and Somos Arte throughout the election season, La Borinqueña is joined by las Poderosas “superheroines” who were inspired by Poderosas Fellows, young Latinas who are using the power of their vote to engage Georgia’s Latinas to vote in Tuesday’s election for the state’s two U.S. Senate seats and Public Service Commissioner.

“Georgia, you delivered in November. Rise up to this moment. Get out there and vote again,” the superhero voiced by Cristela Alonzo, says in the PSA which will be promoted in ads on Univision television and digitally during the final days of the Georgia campaign. Poder Latinx, which has been organizing in Georgia, sponsors the Poderosas Fellows, an “action-oriented” program that has been involved in phone banking, voter registration drives, digital organizing, and developing new leaders.

La Borinqueña was created by award-winning graphic novelist and philanthropist Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez and also was featured in the Poder Latinx’s campaign before the November general election.

Prominent Latina influencers participate in the newest episode that is a fusion of Latinas of Puerto Rican and Mexican backgrounds. They include Maria Elena Salinas, an acclaimed award-winning journalist; comedian, actress, writer, producer, and Latinx activists Cristela Alonzo and Aida Rodriguez; and Maya Murillo, a social media content creator, and influencer.

“Especially in this time of COVID-19, when direct contact with voters is limited, via our superhero La Borinqueña, we are able to reach them through important, culturally-relevant messaging to the Latinx community,” said Miranda-Rodriguez. “La Borinqueña was created to be a beacon of hope and an icon for social justice in the pages of our graphic novels and in the real world via our philanthropic work, activism, and advocacy."

“The growth in the Latinx vote and in other communities of color positions them to be pivotal in the outcome of next week’s runoff elections,” said Yadira Sanchez, Co-Executive Director of Poder Latinx. “And among Georgia Latinos, women make up 53% of registered voters, according to Pew Research Center. That is why it is important for us to target some of our final messaging to Latinas.”

The webcomic’s jingle is from the song, “Georgia On My Mind,” by Las Cafeteras featuring artists QVLN and Sergio Mendoza, the Spanglish rendition of the classic was recently released to promote Black and Brown unity and early voter participation in Georgia for the runoff elections. The song, also, uses Afro-Colombia rhythms of cumbia, electronica, and elements of trap music, which was born in Atlanta. Aside from the classic chorus in English, new lyrics speak to a sense of determination and empowerment to its listeners via Spanish-language rap.

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Poder Latinx, our mission is to build a political wave of voters where the Latinx community, immigrants, and people of color play a key role in the transformation of the country and become decision-makers in our democracy. Through innovative partnerships, issue-based organizing, and leadership development, Poder Latinx is rapidly expanding the U.S electorate with new and low propensity Latinx voters. In its first six months, Poder Latinx registered 30,000 voters, building a foundation poised to create change starting with the Presidential elections in 2020 and beyond.

Yadira Sanchez